A Wound to the Wise: Basic Wound Care Tips and Tricks
You have sustained a wound, now what do you do?
- Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, if available. You can also wear medical gloves, if readily available.
- Stop the bleeding.
- Clean the wound with mild soap and water once bleeding is controlled or stopped.
- Cover the wound with a dressing.
- Seek medical attention if needed.
- Get a Tetanus vaccination, if not up-to-date.
- Watch for signs/symptoms of infection: fever, chills, redness, increased warmth, worsening pain, swelling, odor, or other concerning symptoms related to the wound.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible, if:
- Bleeding will not stop with pressure.
- A foreign object (i.e. soil, wood, metal, etc.) is in the wound.
- Animal/human bites.
- Puncture wounds by a dirty object.
- Signs of infection (fever, chills, redness, increased warmth, worsening pain, swelling, odor, or other concerning symptoms).
If there are concerns or health conditions that would cause a wound to heal slowly, a referral to the Oaklawn Wound Care Center would be appropriate. Wound care centers offer scientific and clinical expertise to deliver the best patient outcomes.
